Bangalore students show ways to convert waste to wealth

Did you know that a mouse could be transformed into a spider? And plastic bottles into a sofa? Did you know penguins could emerge out of chicken eggs?

If your answer to the above questions is a shocked ‘No’, it is time you went back to school. The students of Bangalore could give you a lesson or two in the art of creation.

About 4,000 students from 50 schools came together to show Bangalore just what can be done out of waste products. It was almost magical to see doormats, pen stands, containers, post boxes, wall hangings and even jewellery being made out of waste products from the remains of old pants, newspapers, plastic bottles, egg shells, CDs, floppy disks, pistachio nut shells, etc.

These products on display at St Joseph’s Convent Girl’s High School were part of an ongoing mission by Janaagraha to create awareness among school children on civic issues. The organisation partners with 50 schools in Bangalore to empower children to be active in the society. “We give children the knowledge, skills, and tools to be active today and not wait until they are 18. If we can plant the seed in them today, they will by themselves take it forward and not be the apathetic adults that we are,” said Bandana Agarwal, coordinator, Balajanaagraha.
She added that it is the adults who come with a mental block.

“Children are full of enthusiasm. When someone corrects them, they are willing to learn. One child took nearly 85 interviews as part of her project on waste management. Another student got a restaurant in her locality closed when they refused to segregate waste and continued to dump waste in the neighbourhood.”

These children are aware of their role and the gravity of the situation. Mohammed Zuber, a Class IX student of MMET English Primary High School said, “This is our nation, our country. If we have to save nature, we have to do something to stop pollution.”

He added that even though people do not listen to them, once they take the initiative to do something, people follow them. “When we tell people not to litter, at first they may not listen. But when we tell them it will be beneficial to their health, they listen.”

To create responsible and active citizens, the first step is to create awareness. Balajanaagraha has been organising 8 to 15 sessions in schools for the past seven years as a part of the curriculum, from August to December. During the course of the session, students take up projects they will work on. This year, the theme chosen for the project was Solid Waste Management.